Pumpkin Everything

6.3 stars.

Amy (Taylor Cole) is a widely published author of vampire novels. Grandpa (Ironside) owns a store called Pumpkin Everything, and he thinks her novels are trashy. Kit (Corey Sevier) works at the store. The name of the town is Autumnboro? Cheesy.

After many years Amy comes back to town and sees that Grandpa and Kit are close friends, and is immediately blindsided by Kit's handsome face, and plaid shirt. She remembers him looking different when they were young, obviously not as ruggedly appealing back then...

Grandpa's house is messy, things are strewn about, there is a carton of warm milk sitting on the table without a lid. Grandpa's life is messy, he's old and can't keep up. Kit lives in Grandpa's guest house...vavavoom.

Amy has abandoned everyone important in her life when she left town years ago, and she just now realizes it. What must she do? Vampire girl helps Grandpa, makes amends with mom, and falls in love with country boy. Grandpa realizes he aint getting younger...

This movie is drab, place it in the dreadful Hallmark pile.

I love the three leads (Ashley Cole, Corey Siever and the always wonderful Michael Ironside) but was disappointed to see Michael Ironside cast as an 'old person' as opposed to someone who happens to be older. He is a well-respected actor and I remember him from years ago, usually as a bit of a 'hard man'.

He was patronised by Ashley Cole's character who wanted to decide his life for him and relegate him to a 'waiting for God' retirement facility instead of respecting his right to choose how he wanted to live.

I didn't watch to the end of the film, such was my disappointment at the way Ironside was cast. He can be, and should be, used to better effect!

Not a good message to send!

Hallmark gives us this story of a successful Philadelphia writer who returns to her hometown for a visit when her grandfather suffers an injury. She is pleasantly surprised that many of the traditions continue, and she also reconnects with the best friend she left behind years ago.

Taylor Cole plays the main character, Amy, who discovers that her former friend Kit (Corey Sevier) now works in her grandfather's store. There is little to no chemistry between them at first, and the story meanders between various of Amy's interests and concerns, including her job, which has impending responsibilities. But the narrative picks up, and the final minutes of the film are totally engaging.

One of the best aspects of the film is the depiction of the autumnal colors of nature. You can practically smell the season and the pumpkin spice flavorings of everything. It is very immersive.

The scenery in this movie was beautiful! I watched it from the viewpoint of the grandfather because I'm more of that age. I must say that I sympathized with him. It's tough when you get to a point in your life when you have to think about giving up your home, your business, your life that you've had. It's also tough having to admit you can't do all the things you used to without some help. So it made me a little emotional. But like every Hallmark movie, it had a happy ending. I hope to be able to visit a place like pumpkin everything someday. It really bought the feel of fall into the my living room.

Taylor Cole is , perhaps, the most beautiful Hallmark movies actress. Yet, after a couple of corny, but entertaining movies in 2016, Hallmark has been unable to provide her with scripts with sufficient drama or substance. Here, again, she appears in a rather dull movie that moves very slow, filled with lengthy conversations, going from the inane to the barely relevant. There is very little action in the about ninety minutes production. In the absence of realistic conflicts or drama, the films stretches over the limits whatever little it has. So, we have a grouchy grandfather, far too rude and obstinate to capture any empathy and a writer, Amy, with the absurd situation of been prevented by her job from living or staying at home, as she desires. If there is an occupation that does not demands to stay away from home, it's precisely the one of a writer! A writer does not need to be locked in a city to promote her books!

The rest of the story is the reunion of Amy with her schooldays friend, or old flame, after years of neglect. This is, possibly, the least original theme in romantic TV movies and is handled in no original way.

Taylor Cole and Cory Sevier are not enough to salvage the show.

The movie does have some gentle moments, is family-friendly and wants to be uplifting, as in old Hallmark tradition. It is a pity that it is not engaging enough to make it real entertainment or deserve a higher score, in my view.